Hornyhead Chub Fishing Guide: 31 Lakes by Water Quality

Hornyhead Chub is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 31 lakes carry documentation. Hornyhead Chub is narrowly distributed — only 31 lakes in Michigan have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.

Rough-fish-dominant lakes are worth checking the phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Hornyhead Chub lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Hornyhead Chub documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Michigan lakes →

57 ft

Avg. Depth

Best Hornyhead Chub Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with hornyhead chub, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Depth	Species
1	Upper Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	45 ft	9
2	Lower Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	-	9
3	Sanford Lake	Benzie	MI	-	17
4	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	MI	-	15
5	Lake Ann	Benzie	MI	75 ft	10
6	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	60 ft	40
7	Corey Lake	St. Joseph	MI	-	13
8	Silver Lake	Van Buren	MI	-	15
9	Avery Lake	Montmorency	MI	-	9
10	Brown Lake	Jackson	MI	-	6
11	Sanford Lake	Midland	MI	20 ft	17
12	Big Bradford Lake	Otsego	MI	-	14
13	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	MI	-	15
14	Eagle Lake	Allegan	MI	-	30
15	Viking Lake	Otsego	MI	25 ft	18
16	Jordan Lake	Barry	MI	-	23
17	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	88 ft	40
18	Long Lake	Benzie	MI	-	40
19	Baldwin Lake	Cass	MI	-	25
20	Silver Lake	Genesee	MI	-	15
21	Long Lake	Cass	MI	42 ft	25
22	Baldwins Lake	Cass	MI	55 ft	33
23	Green Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	102 ft	11
24	Silver Lake	Lenawee	MI	26 ft	15
25	Silver Lake	Washtenaw	MI	-	15
26	Lake James	Roscommon	MI	-	12
27	Green Lake	Allegan	MI	60 ft	20
28	Lower Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	-	9
29	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	MI	91 ft	15
30	Long Lake	Cheboygan	MI	61 ft	40
31	Upper Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	45 ft	9

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have hornyhead chub?

Hornyhead Chub are documented in 31 lakes: 31 in Michigan.

What are the best lakes for hornyhead chub?

The best hornyhead chub lakes by water quality are Upper Woodcock Lake, Lower Woodcock Lake, Sanford Lake, Silver Lake, Lake Ann. These lakes carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings among all lakes where hornyhead chub have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with hornyhead chub?

Hornyhead Chub are most commonly found alongside hornyhead chub, bluntnose minnow, northern longear sunfish, yellow perch, johnny darter. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Hornyhead Chub Lakes

Bluntnose Minnow Lakes

Found together in 29 lakes · 160 total

Northern Longear Sunfish Lakes

Found together in 24 lakes · 64 total

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 23 lakes · 1,577 total

Johnny Darter Lakes

Found together in 22 lakes · 98 total

Largemouth Bass Lakes

Found together in 22 lakes · 2,489 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 21 lakes · 1,550 total

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.